The Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) is committed to growing its Danang Conference into the region’s premier gathering of the golfing industry.
“The overwhelming feedback from our inaugural AGIF Danang Conference is that Asia needs a credible annual event that unites the industry,” said Chris Gray, President of the AGIF, the umbrella body for the golf industry in the region.
Staged in partnership with the BRG Group and Danang Tourism, the first edition of the AGIF Danang Conference attracted more than 100 delegates from across Vietnam as well as from India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Held at the BRG Group-owned Sheraton Grand Hotel, the conference formed part of a week-long golfing festival that is also seeing BRG Da Nang Golf Resort play host to a 54-hole event on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), the Asian Tour’s feeder circuit.
Gray said: “Our thanks go to the BRG Group and Danang Tourism as well as gold sponsor Toro and silver sponsors John Deere and Rain Bird. Without their support, putting together the AGIF Danang Conference at such short notice would not have been possible.
“Based on the immediate feedback we’ve received from delegates, speakers and sponsors, we’re already looking at ways in which we can enhance the event in 2023 and make it more attractive.
“We firmly believe that the AGIF Danang Conference and the Danang Fantastic City tourism programme will combine to unite the golf industry in Asia and establish themselves as ‘must attend’ events on the Asian golf industry calendar.”
During their welcome addresses, Nguyen Trung Khanh, Chairman of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Madame Nguyen Thi Nga, Founder and Chairman of the BRG Group, both spoke bullishly about the future prospects for all elements of the Danang Golf Festival.
In addition to focusing on the state of golf in Vietnam and golf tourism recovery in the post-Covid 19 era, the topics of women in golf, and sustainability in golf course design, golf course maintenance and operations, featured on the agenda.
Speakers included Adam Calver (Laguna Golf Lang Co), David Dale (Golfplan), James Gordon (Profile Products), Chris Gray (The R&A), Andrew Johnston (Sentosa Golf Club) – pictured -, Eric Lynge (Sports Marketing Surveys Asia), Henry Ng (Sustane Natural Fertilizer), Nguyen Thai Duong (Vietnam Golf Association), Nguyen Xuan Binh (Danang Department of Tourism), Eric Pfeifer (Greg Norman Golf Course Design), Andrew Price (Toro), Karen Proctor (Textron Specialized Vehicles) and Paul Stringer (Nicklaus Design).
Spencer Robinson, the Asian Golf Industry Federation’s Chief Communications Officer, acted as Master of Ceremonies and moderator for panel sessions.
Other highlights of the week included a trade exhibition at which member companies of the AGIF, along with other golf-related organisations, showcased their wares, and the announcement of the launch of the AGIF’s Certificate in Greenkeeping programme in Vietnam.
Gray said: “As a not-for-profit organisation, the AGIF is motivated by bringing the industry together with a view to growing all aspects of golf in our region.
“And there could be nowhere better to do that than Vietnam, arguably the world’s fastest-growing and most dynamic emerging golfing market.”
